ST. BERNARD'S - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Senior Management Team
- Certified TCI Trainer
- Manager of St. Bernard 's Childrens' Services Fostering Support Service
- Social Care Manager
Andrew Kennedy is currently the manager of St. Bernard's Childrens' Services Fostering Support Service. He has been a practicing residential social care worker since 1999, with experience of working with children from a therapeutic community and psychodynamic perspective.
He has practiced in a therapeutic high support unit for children under 12 with insecure attachments, with adolescents in a medium-term unit, as well as managing a medium term unit. He has managed the Fostering Support Service since 2014.
His qualifications include:
BA (Hons) in Applied Social Studies in Social Care
MA in Therapeutic Child Care.
Andrew is a certified TCI trainer. Andrew has a special interest in reflective practice and the impact of adverse childhood experiences on children and young people and the adults who care for them. Andrew has co-authored published journal articles on topics related to reflective practice in social care practice and disruption and loss in fostering.
30+ years experience in healthcare, charitable and global medical devise organisations. She holds qualifications in Nursing, Health Management and an MA in Drug and Alcohol Policy.
Lecturer. She currently leads on the BA in Social and Community Studies at LIT Tipperary. Catherine's academic and practitioner career focuses on the management, implementation and design of humanitarian and development programmes in a variety of contexts.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Manager, Coolmore Stud Farm, Fethard. Christy Is the Current Chairman of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association
Manager, Coolmore Stud Farm, Fethard. Christy is the current Chairman of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Senior Management Team
- Deputy Director of Services
Eilish has over 35 years' experience in leading and managing in social care, 25 of which has been championing the implementation of therapeutic child care. Eilish has a particular interest in staff development and in promoting reflective practice. Her qualifications include:
B. Soc Science, NUI
Cert. in Supervision and Counselling Skills, C.I.T.
M.A. in Therapeutic Child Care, HETAC
Eilish also has received specialist training in management, change management and attachment.
Practising Solicitor. Máire qualified as a solicitor in 2001. She holds a Masters in Family Law and Family Policy, she specialises in family law. Since January 2018 Máire is a member of the board of the Charities Regulatory Authority.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Senior Management Team
- Social Care Manager
Mairéad is the Social Care Manager for St. Bernard's therapeutic Children's Residential Service, Sacré Coeur. Mairéad has over 40 years' experience in the social care field and has provided consistent management for Sacré Coeur since it opened in 1997 and has overseen significant changes in service provision and development in her long standing career. Her qualifications include:
National Diploma in Childcare
Child Attachment Interviews, Anna Freud clinic, London
Diploma in Leadership and Management, UCD. Jan 2023
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Retired Social Care Manager
A retired social care manager who has worked with young people in the juvenile justice system for nearly 40 years. He is a founder member of Social Care Ireland and edits the association's publications. He is chair of Care Leavers Ireland, a charity which offers assistance and support to young people leaving the care system in Ireland who are pursuing an education or career path.
Job Titles:
- Director of Services
- Member of the Senior Management Team
- Organisational Consultant
Róisín Stewart is a qualified Organisational Consultant who has worked in the social care field for the past 28 years, 15 of which as the Director of St Bernard's. In her leadership role, Róisín is acutely aware of the complexities of the task facing health and social care teams in their work with children and families.
Róisín's qualifications include:
BSc Applied Psychology, University of Ulster, Jordanstown. June 1996
MA (Hons) Therapeutic Child Care, St. Patrick's College, Carlow. June 2006
MA Consulting and leading in organisations: Psychodynamic and Systemic Approaches, Tavistock and Portman, London. July 2019
Tavistock Qualification in Consultation, Tavistock and Portman, London. June 2021
Diploma in Business and Executive Coaching. May 2022
Professional Doctorate: Advanced practice and research: consultation and the organisation, Tavistock and Portman, London (Current/pending)
Job Titles:
- Member of the Senior Management Team
- Social Care Manager
Samantha O'Doherty is the Social Care Manager in Grianán. Samantha has over 25 years of experience working with children in both the residential therapeutic community and in foster homes as part of the therapeutic fostering support team, providing and facilitating a therapeutic community and psychodynamic approach.
Her qualifications include:
National Diploma in Applied Social Studies in Social Care, WIT
Diploma in Youth and Community Work, UCC
MA in Leadership in Therapeutic Child and Social Care, Carlow College
Job Titles:
- Member of the Senior Management Team
- Deputy Manager in Sacre Coeur
- Deputy Social Care Manager
Tara Moloney is the Deputy Manager in Sacre Coeur. She has worked with children in care for the past twenty years in both residential and fostering support services.
Her qualifications include:
Level 8 QQI in Social Care, D.I.T.
MA in Therapeutic Childcare, Carlow College.
Tara has presented workshops at Carlow College's Certificate in Therapeutic Foster Care, Social Care Ireland National Conference, and Irish Foster Carers Association National Conference. Tara is author of Therapeutic story "Tess feels a Mess".
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Retired Member of an Garda Siochana
A retired member of An Garda Siochana. Tom was a Superintendent in the local district. He has over thirty years' experience in serving the community and protecting the state.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Senior Management Team
- Deputy Manager in Grianán
- Deputy Social Care Manager
Wayne is the Deputy Manager in Grianán. He has worked with children in care for the past eight years.
His qualifications include:
BA (HONS) in Applied Social Studies in Social Care, WIT
MA in Leadership in Therapeutic Child and Social Care, Carlow College.